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A pay-per-view based on a type of gimmick match, Extreme Rules is one of the most awaited WWE events of the year. With WWE advertising the event as the one night in the year that there are no rules in the company, the event has gained recognition over the past decade.
The event faced the same problem as many other pay-per-views based on gimmicks. The company inserted stipulations into each match on the card, whether it suited the feud or not. As of late, WWE no longer makes each bout on the night a 'special conditions' one, with the upcoming 2018 Extreme Rules pay-per-view featuring several matches with normal conditions.
The nature of the pay-per-view has led to some brutal and memorable bouts, which have gone down in WWE history. As almost all the bouts on the card were given different stipulations, several feuds received conditions which did not suit it and made it look awkward or pointless. However, over the years, there were some matches that were exceptions to this rule. With different types of matches, be it no holds barred, or ladder matches or even a street fight, the brutality and the sheer chemistry of the two stars working together in these matches have helped them to stand out from the crowd.
In this list, we will talk about those bouts in Extreme Rules which were different and helped the story the superstars were trying to tell in their feud. Without further ado, let's take a look at five of the best matches in Extreme Rules history.
#5 Rey Mysterio vs Chris Jericho (2009 - No Holds Barred)
If there is one man in WWE who knows how to work the crowd and do incredible heelwork, it is Chris Jericho. While his feud the year before with Shawn Michaels was one of the best rivalries of his career, his feud with Rey Mysterio was no less.
Rey Mysterio held the Intercontinental Title at that time, while Jericho was on the lookout to secure a ninth Intercontinental Title win. He was hell-bent on not only taking the Intercontinental Championship from Mysterio but also humiliating him in the process. To do this, he did not stop at any length, as he focused on trying to remove the Luchador's mask and revealing his face, something that Mysterio held as extremely precious to him.
The two had faced each other in the previous two months, but on this occasion, the duo stole the show at New Orleans, Louisana.
Rey Mysterio had been about to hit his opponent with the 619 when Jericho somehow removed his mask and rolled up the distressed Mysterio for a three-count.
You can watch the two battle at Extreme Rules here:
The removal of the mask stunned the audience and left everyone gasping as Rey felt the full force of his loss.
You can watch the two face each other on SmackDown here:
#4 CM Punk vs Chris Jericho (2012 - Chicago Street Fight):
Chicago is a special city when it comes to hosting bouts which feature CM Punk. In front of his home-town crowd, CM Punk took on Chris Jericho in 2012.
The two of them had met previously at WrestleMania, delivering one of the best performances of the night, but in their match at Extreme Rules, the duo held nothing back.
The feud had taken a turn after WrestleMania when Chris Jericho talked about Punk's father's alcoholism. He had poured beer on Punk and made fun of Punk's straight-edge lifestyle. He had even shattered a bottle of whiskey on Punk's head on Raw.
The hometown crowd was firmly behind Punk, as the two men faced each other in 'street' clothing instead of their usual ring attire. Punk's sister was present in the crowd and slapped Jericho.
You can see clips from the match here:
The bout was brutal and personal, telling the story of the feud perfectly. Punk won when he hit Jericho with the GTS.
You can see Jericho smash the bottle on Punk's head here:
#3 Alberto Del Rio vs Christian (2011 - Ladder Match):
A ladder match is always a treat to watch. A ladder match with one of the pioneers of the bout? That is even better.
Such was the condition when Christian faced Alberto Del Rio at Extreme Rules in 2011 in a Ladder Match.
Christian had spent his entire fifteen-year career in WWE, without a single major World title. He had held several secondary titles as well as tag titles, but the resume of the 'Captain Charisma' severely lacked a main-event title.
The match itself was not the best one of all time, although it was the match of the night. Both men took ridiculous bumps, and the interfering Brodus Clay was opened up as well.
The bout had not been going too well for Christian, but his former tag partner, Edge turned up at just the right moment. The distraction helped Christian to get the World Heavyweight Championship from the top of the ladder.
The moment was an emotional one, with Edge having retired three weeks before the bout after revealing his injuries, Christian's first-ever major championship win could not have come at a better time and made this bout all the more memorable.
You can see the two battle at Extreme Rules here:
#2 John Cena vs Brock Lesnar (2012 - No Holds Barred)
John Cena was not going through the best time in his life. He had suffered a devastating defeat to the Rock at WrestleMania, in the then 'Once in a Lifetime' match. He had then been divorced by his wife.
All in all Cena's stock in life had taken a serious beating.
Enter Brock Lesnar. As if all that Cena had endured was not enough, the Beast chose this moment to return to the company after years away, and take on Cena.
He returned to pick Cena up and hit him with the F5 on the very first night. Lesnar looked indomitable, and a No Holds Barred Match was set for the duo, to take place at Extreme Rules.
Lesnar destroyed Cena throughout the bout with a level of brutality that had not been seen in WWE from the onset of the PG era. His MMA Style moves and suplexes left Cena a mess.
Cena was completely obliterated but ended up picking up the win anyway after an Attitude Adjustment.
You can see the highlights from the bout here:
The entire bout was vastly different from anything that the WWE Universe had seen in years, and is one of the best matches in Extreme Rules history, although Cena picking up the win remains controversial.
#1 Edge vs Jeff Hardy (2009 - Ladder Match):
Two men who had pioneered the Ladder Match in their days as members from opposing Tag Team faced each other at Extreme Rules in a feud for the World Heavyweight Title.
Both men had changed the game in the company for Ladder matches, and WWE used that to bill the bout as ten years in the making.
Both men took fearsome bumps and recreated some of the moments from their tag team days. They took the show to another level and stole the entire show.
In the end, Jeff Hardy won the World Heavyweight Championship in an emotional moment.
You can see clips from the bout here:
However, it was not to be. CM Punk chose that moment to cash in the Money in the Bank briefcase contract two years in a row, winning Hardy's title from him. The cash in begun what would be Hardy's last feud in the company until he returned with his brother Matt in 2017.
